Hospital bed signal



Feb. 24, 1948. M. R. LIEFFERS ETAL HOSPITAL BED SIGNAL Filed Feb. 12, 1945 INVENTORS. l l lLL/AM fP. L/[FFARS BY fP/CHARD 7. ADAMS Patented Feb. 24, 1948 HOSPITAL BED SIGNAL William E. Liefiers and Richard 1. Adams, Denver, 0010.

Application February 12, 1345, Serial Noemi-560 1 claim. 1

This invention relate to a hospital bed. signal and has for its principalobiect the provision of a signal device which can be operated by an a most compl tely paralyzed bed-ridden patient Other objects and advantages reside in the d tail construction of the invention, which is de signed for simplicity, economy, and elilciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all view of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating the complete improved signal installation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of the signal box employed on the improved signal;

Figs. 3 and 4 are side and rear Views, respectively, of the box; and

Fig. 5 is a still further enlarged vertical longitudinal section through the signal box.

Th improved patients bed signal employs a floor stand iii of any desired design, supporting a vertical post H, A vertical sleeve i2 is slidably mounted on the pedestal I l and may be set at any desired vertical position thereon by means of a suitable thumb screw it. The sleeve I2 is provided with a horizontal tubular portion it in which a horizontal tubular arm is slidably mounted. The arm 55 may be located in any desired horizontal position in the portion ill by means of a second thumb screw 5.

The arm 15 supports a signal box H, preferably formed of non-metallic material such as Bakelite, plastic, or fiber. The box is formed with an internal clamping block 18 through which the extremity of the arm l5 passes, and in which the arm may be clamped by means of a suitab e set screw !9. The sides, top, bottom, and back of the box are closed, the back having an opening for the passage of the arm !5.

The front of the box I! is closed by means of a swinging panel 2! which is pivoted on a crossshaft 22. The cross-shaft is placed nearer the top of the panel 2i than the bottom thereof so that the bottom will have the greatest arc of swing. The sides of the box are cut away opposite the lower portion of the panel 2 I, as shown at 23, to allow free access thereto.

A tilting platform 26, which is mounted on a second cross shaft 25, normally rests upon the upper extremity of the panel 2!, The crossshaft 25 is placed nearer the rear of the platform 25 than the front thereof so that the latter will naturally tilt downward by gravit when released from the'panel 2 i.

A mercuroid switch 26 is mounted in a clip 5?! on the upper surface of the platform 24 so that it will tilt therewith. The mercuroid switch is in circuit with electrical conductors 28 leading to the standard signal system of the installation. An electric lamp 33 is placed within the box I i, the light from which is visible through jewelled windows 34 in the two sides of the box. The lamp 33 is also connected in series with the regular signal system of the hospital or other installation of the improved signal.

A re-setting plunger 29 extends vertically through a spring housing 36 on the top of the box I? to a position over the rear extremity of the patform 24. The plunger 29 is constantly urged upwardly by means of a compression spring and may be manually forced downward by means of a finger button 32 positioned on the top thereof.

Let us assume that a patient is physically incapable of any movement except a waver of the hands or arms while lying prone, or a slight movement of the entire body caused by his swinging the bed or mattress. The pedestal II and the arm are adjusted. so as to place the lower portion of the panel 25 just above the bed opposite that portion of the patients body which can be moved. A slight movement on the part of the patient will force the lower part of the panel 2! inwardly, This will remove the support from the forward portion of the platform 24, allowing it to tilt downwardly, as shown in broken line in Fig. 5. This causes the mercury in the mercuroid switch to complete a circuit through the electrical conductors 28 and through the lamp 33 to the signal system of the hospital or institution.

When the signal is answered by the nurse or other attendant, the button 32 is depressed, which lifts the forward extremity of the platform 24 above the upper extremity of the panel 2!. The latter then swings by gravity into place beneath the platform 24' to support the latter until the next signal is given.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A bed patients signal operating device comprising: a supporting device; a signal box supported by said device alongside of the patient, said box being closed on its sides, top, bottom and back and having an open front; a horizontal pivot shaft extending across said open front above the middle thereof; a swinging panel mounted on said pivot shaft and extending vertically 10 above and below the latter to form a front in said box; a cross-shaft extending across the upper portion of said box parallel to said pivot shaft; a tilting platform hinged on said crossshaft and extending forwardly to rest on and be supported by the upper edge of said panel when the latter is in a vertical position and to be released by said panel when the bottom of the latter is swung inwardly; and a circuit closing device operable in consequence of the tilting of said platform When released by said panel, the sides of said box being cut back opposite the lower portion of said panel to allow the latter to be contacted by the patients body when the latter is placed across the front of said box,

WILLIAM R. LIEFFERS. RICHARD T. ADAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 433,560 Detwiller Aug. 5, 1890 1,021,436 Thompson Mar. 26, 1912 1,376,712 Liebold May 3, 1921 1,416,263 Campbell May 16, 1922 1,572,695 Van Amburg et a1. Feb. 9, 1926 1,606,678 Von Marsovszky Nov. 9, 1926 1,915,985 Edwards June 2'7, 1933 2,103,744 Dumble Dec, 28, 1937 2,162,709 Gill, Sr June 20, 1939 2,196,501 Kehm Apr. 9, 1940 2,214,317 Bash et a1. Sept, 10, 1940 

